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A thick layer of new snow has prompted dangerous avalanche warnings in two South Island alpine ranges.
The Avalanche Advisory has issued alerts for a considerable risk for alpine terrain at Two Thumb Range and for high alpine terrain at Aoraki / Mount Cook.
It said rapidly moving fronts would pepper Aoraki/Mt Cook area in Canterbury over the next few days.
"Expect avalanche danger to spike with the onset of precipitation and wind. The upper snowpack is not getting much of a rest between systems and is multi-layered. It needs a bit of time to adjust to new snow loading.
"Now is not the time to be 'pushing the boat out.'"
A large storm slab avalanche has been observed on the Richmond Range in the last few days with multiple loose, wet avalanches sighted from the valley floor in the southern end of the Two Thumb range, it said.
Meanwhile, a moderate avalanche risk alert has been issued for Queenstown, Wānaka and Fiordland, as well as Tongariro, Arthur's Pass, Craigieburn Range, Mt Hutt, Ohau and Mount Aspiring National Park.
Snow warnings for alpine roads
Motorists are being urged to drive with caution due to forecast snow on alpine roads in the South Island from Tuesday.
Snow was expected on the Lewis (State Highway 7) and Porters (SH73) passes, MetService advised.
Snow was also set to lower to 700m on Tuesday night on the Crown Range Road, linking Queenstown and Wanaka.
A warning for Southland's Milford Road (SH94) and the Lewis Pass (SH8) in Central Otago has been lifted.
On the Desert Road in the central North Island, snow was expected to 700m early on Wednesday morning, with up to 8cm predicted to settle on the road.
CROWN RANGE ROAD
Period: From 8pm on Tuesday until 11pm on Wednesday:
Light snow showers are forecast to affect the road on Tuesday night, and 1cm to 2cm of snow may settle on the road near the summit, with light flurries possible down to 700 metres.
LEWIS PASS (SH7)
Period: From 8pm until 12pm on Tuesday:
Snow is forecast to lower to 900 metres this evening, and 1cm to 3cm may settle near the summit.
PORTERS PASS (SH73)
Period: From 8pm until 11pm on Tuesday:
Snow is forecast above 800 metres in the evening, and 3cm to 8cm of snow may settle on the road, most of it between 8pm and 10pm.
DESERT ROAD (SH1)
From 3am until 6pm on Wednesday:
Snow is forecast to lower to 700 metres early in the morning, and 5cm to 10cm may settle on the road near the summit, with lesser amounts down to 700 metres.
Strong wind watches
Strong wind watches are in place for the top and bottom of the country, starting from Wednesday.
In the North Island, MetService has issued strong wind watches for Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, north of Huntly, and coastal areas from Tokomaru Bay to Wairoa.
Down south, a watch was in place for Dunedin and North Otago, Clutha and Southland, as well as Stewart Island.
"A strong southwest flow is expected to develop over the country during Wednesday and Thursday," MetService said.
"People are advised to stay up to date with the latest forecasts in case any changes are made."
- additional reporting ODT Online